TNIAAM ACC Football 2013 Power Rankings: Week 6

Each week, the TNIAAM football staff will be ranking all 14 ACC teams in a completely subjective manner, just like everyone else on the internet. Feel like we're completely off base? Chime in with your own ACC power rankings below.

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After five weeks of ACC action, the league still has four undefeated teams (for the first time in its history) and every team except North Carolina has at least two victories. If Syracuse fans haven't felt like they're part of this narrative just yet, they're about to. All eight of the Orange's remaining games are against conference opponents. Hopefully you feel right at home now.

Interested in seeing the individual voter breakdown? Check out the Google Doc here!

1. Clemson Tigers (4-0) (2-0)

Last Week: W, 56-7 over Wake Forest; Next Week: at Syracuse

Highest Position: 1; Lowest Position: 1

As Clemson is wont to do, they demolished last week's opponent, Wake Forest, in pretty impressive fashion. Tajh Boyd effortlessly accounted for 390 total yards and four touchdowns, and the Tigers had the win wrapped up by halftime. Syracuse will certainly have its hands full stopping this passing attack next week.

2. Florida State Seminoles (4-0) (2-0)

Last Week: W, 48-34 over Boston College; Next Week: vs. Maryland

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 3

Florida State didn't start off all too well against Boston College, but then James Winston took the team on his back and delivered yet another impressive performance in his young career. While the offense isn't much of a concern, the FSU defense has actually started to become a bit of a problem -- one which could spell trouble against Maryland on Saturday.

3. Miami Hurricanes (4-0) (0-0)

Last Week: W, 49-21 over USF; Next Week: vs. Georgia Tech

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 3

Miami's been impressive AND tested to this point (just like Clemson and unlike Florida State), but they're also not without concerns -- mainly the ankle injury twice-suffered by QB Stephen Morris. If Morris can't stay healthy, who knows what happens to this offense against the meat of their schedule. They may have to find out soon, unfortunately.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies (4-1) (1-0)

Last Week: W, 17-10 over Georgia Tech; Next Week: vs. North Carolina

Highest Position: 4; Lowest Position: 5

That opening loss against Alabama seems like it was an awful long time ago, doesn't it? Since then, Virginia Tech has sported what may very well be the country's top defense and tallied four straight wins -- three against what will almost certainly be teams that win eight or more games in 2013. Lesson no. 1 of the ACC: Never count out the Hokies. Ever.

5. Maryland Terrapins (4-0) (0-0)

Last Week: BYE; Next Week: at Florida State

Highest Position: 4; Lowest Position: 5

To this point, Maryland really hasn't faced anyone, so let's get that out of the way before talking about how great this offense has been. C.J. Brown has been one of the unsung stars of the first quarter of the season, and this passing game looks like it could carry the Terps for much of the year. Their first real test of the year is against FSU though, which should provide a much better measuring stick for where this team will end up.

6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-1) (2-1)

Last Week: L, 17-10 to Virginia Tech; Next Week: at Miami

Highest Position: 5; Lowest Position: 9

Georgia Tech was ready to take a commanding Coastal lead last week until the Hokies decided otherwise. But this is still a very dangerous team despite the loss, as we're likely to see against Miami this week. If the Wreck are going to have a shot at finishing atop their division, this 'Canes game is now a must-win.

7. Pittsburgh Panthers (3-1) (2-1)

Last Week: W, 14-3 over Virginia; Next Week: BYE

Highest Position: 6; Lowest Position: 8

Pitt's reeled off three straight wins, all in very different fashion, and remain one of the conference's biggest mysteries. Are they the team that got housed by FSU? The one that beat Duke 58-55? Or the staunch defensive squad from last weekend? If they keep winning, they don't really need an answer, but one will come soon enough, one way or another.

8. NC State Wolfpack (3-1) (0-1)

Last Week: W, 48-14 over Central Michigan; Next Week: at Wake Forest

Highest Position: 7; Lowest Position: 11

Despite the underwhelming way in which they've gotten to this point in the year, NC State's also (maybe) a botched call away from being 4-0, so it's tough to take too much away from them. Still can't entirely trust this offense against elite competition, but the defense has come on rather well in a transition year and should keep them competitive all season.

9. Syracuse Orange (2-2) (0-0)

Last Week: BYE; Next Week: vs. Clemson

Highest Position: 6; Lowest Position: 10

Next week, we finally get a realistic glimpse of what the Terrel Hunt era means for Syracuse, as the team takes on Clemson in the league opener. SU's defensive backs will have their work cut out for them, but Clemson's front four will also have to figure a way to contain Hunt if they want to make good on this game's current two-touchdown spread.

10. Boston College Eagles (2-2) (1-1)

Last Week: L, 48-34 to Florida State; Next Week: vs. Army

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 12

BC really hung in there for awhile against the Seminoles, and if nothing else, it proved that Steve Addazio's got this team back on the right track. They'll get a breather against Army this Saturday before diving into the bulk of the ACC slate. If the offense can perform like it did vs. FSU, they stand a chance to be in every game they play for the rest of the year.

11. Virginia Cavaliers (2-2) (0-1)

Last Week: L, 14-3 to Pittsburgh; Next Week: vs. Ball State

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 12

Virginia has to figure itself out on offense if it hopes to have a shot at bowl eligibility this season. Outside of the Oregon game, the defense has held its ground, so now it's all about offensive execution. Whether that's David Watford or Greyson Lambert at quarterback, or behind a powerful running game, it doesn't really matter. This team just needs to figure out how to score.

12. Duke Blue Devils (3-2) (0-2)

Last Week: W, 38-31 over Troy; Next Week: BYE

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 13

The Blue Devils' offense has actually been quite impressive in Anthony Boone's absence, with Brandon Connette filling in extremely well (over 1,000 passing yards and 11 TDs, plus more on the ground). But this defense is atrocious. Each of Duke's last three opponents have scored at least 31 points (and Pitt scored 58), and the secondary looks lost. That's how a team's ranked this low despite three wins in five games, if you were wondering.

13. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-3) (0-1)

Last Week: L, 55-31 to East Carolina; Next Week: at Virginia Tech

Highest Position: 10; Lowest Position: 14

Following the Heels' third loss of the season, there's very little room for error as the team finds itself fighting for bowl eligibility. The defense has been a mess, while the offense simply can't move the ball on the ground at all. If not for the preseason hype, perhaps things wouldn't seem as dire. For UNC though, this has become a nightmare season already.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-3) (0-2)

Last Week: L, 56-7 to Clemson; Next Week: vs. NC State

Highest Position: 13; Lowest Position: 14

Wake's offense has been a no-show all season, and at this point, there's a very real chance they don't win a league game at all. How could they when they struggle to get to 20 points every game? It's been a steady drop for this Deacons program for about five seasons, and now we may finally see what the bottom looks like.